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Home , Banyumas Regency, Batang Regency, Boyolali Regency, Karanganyar Regency, Kebumen (town), Kebumen Regency

Volume 3, Issue 1, June 2020 Page 81–94

Sociological perspective on the elimination of Karanganyar as an impact of the 1930s economic depression

Teguh Hindarto1*, Chusni Ansori2

1Braindilog Sosiologi , Indonesia 2Puslit Geoteknologi – LIPI, Indonesia

*Corresponding author E-mail address: [email protected] DOI: https://doi.org/10.21107/sml.v3i1.7201

Article Info Abstract

Keywords: The 1930s economic crisis in the United States had spread throughout Economic crisis the world and caused a number of social, economic, political and cultural impacts, including for the colonies. , Social-economical- cultural-political which was in the Bagelen Residency territory since 1901, had experienced impact the effects of the economic shock as well. Karanganyar was a district in the Social change Regency area. Before becoming a sub-district, Karanganyar was an independent regency and had its head of government from 1832 until 1936. Through literature studies, this paper intended to thoroughly analyze the existence of Karanganyar Regency in the colonial era, find out the background of its elimination, and the process of social change that occurred. To obtain the main variables that cause the elimination of Karanganyar Regency, the researcher utilized the historical comparative method. From the analysis, we concluded that the Economic Depression centred in the United States affected the Dutch East Indies colonies, particularly on the management of the government bureaucracy. This situation demanded the Dutch East Indies government to adapt to social change by removing a number of Regency, including Karanganyar Regency.

Citation suggestion: Hindarto, T., & Ansori, C. (2020). Sociological perspective on the elimination of Karanganyar Regency as an impact of the 1930s economic depression. Simulacra, 3(1), 81–94. https://doi.org/10.21107/sml.v3i1.7201

Received 6 May 2020; Received in revised form 23 May 2020; Accepted 29 May 2020; Published online 25 June 2020. Teguh Hindarto, Chusni Ansori

Introduction descriptions and analyzes related to the impact of the Economic Depression in the The Great Depression of 1929-1938 Dutch East Indies, especially Karanganyar centered in the United States. It not only Regency, which has been part of the Bagelen brought social, political, economic and Residency territory since 1901. cultural impact domestically but on all countries economically connected with the United States. It produces an effect akin Method to ocean floor earthquake that triggers Given that the topic of discussion tsunamis in some coastal areas close to examines an event that triggered social the epicenter. The United States Economic impacts and changes across countries, Depression was an economic earthquake the most suitable methodology used epicenter that triggered a tsunami effect in to study the problem is the historical- a number of countries. Indeed, the United comparative approach to get a comprehensive States experienced the most severe shocks understanding. As stated by W. Lawrence as the centre of the Economic Depression. Neuwan, the historical comparative is suitable In 1929, as many as 600 banks closed. In the for examining various combinations of social following, the 1000 followed suit (McNesse, factors that give certain results (for example, 2010: 39). In 1932, as many as 2000 banks civil war, taxation system, and religion). This in the United States went out of business approach is also appropriate to compare the (McNesse, 2010: 39). Shocks were experienced social system as a whole, to find issues that in other business sectors, not only business commonly found in all communities as well people and bankers. Farmers felt similar as unique ones, and to study the long-term economic shocks. In 1929, a bushel was changes that occur in society (Neuman, 2013: valued at $ 1.03. It fell drastically to 36 cents 513). in 1931 (McNesse, 2010: 39). Unemployment The steps of the historical-comparative increased dramatically. However, there approach are composed of conceptualizing was no accurate record from the federal the object of study, finding evidence, government. In 1932, industrial workers’ evaluating the quality of evidence, compiling wages fell by 50% since 1928 (McNesse, 2010: evidence, synthesizing, and writing reports 39). (Neuwan, 2013: 522-526). We took several The economic depression which affected methodological steps to obtain a general the United States and several other countries description of the Economic Depression that disrupt not only industrial and economic hit the world. It was described and analyzed activities but also political and government through a number of historical data in the policies. It also affected a number of colonies, form of works of literature that capture the including the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia). economic shocks. Meanwhile, the impact Budget cuts and elimination of certain of the depression on the Dutch East Indies administrative regions was a part of a policy territories was be presented and analyzed to respond to the Economic Depression. through a number of historical data from From a sociological perspective, the Dutch-language newspapers that reported Economic Depression of 1929-1938 gave rise the removal and reaction of local officials in to several unplanned and unintended changes the Bagelen Residency and the Banyumas in various sectors, including social, political, Residency. cultural, and primarily economic. This paper The authors attempted to find the would provide a number of sociological main factors that lead to the elimination of

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Karanganyar Regency to be merged into Macionis described four characteristics that . After collecting several mark a process of social change, namely: (1) Dutch newspaper articles, the writer found Social change that occurs over time. Change a number of reasons for the elimination of is part of the dynamics of the life of a society; many districts in the Bagelen and Banyumas, (2) social change often occurs continuously including Karanganyar Regency. To but sometimes unplanned. A deviation ensure the accuracy of colonial-era Dutch- can occur from the original plan; (3) social language newspaper articles’ translations, change causes controversy. Every social the author utilized several physical and change is not necessarily accepted and can virtual dictionaries and encyclopedias. experience a reaction of rejection because of Because this study examined the situation unpreparedness; (4) social change becomes a of an area that has undergone socio-cultural problem for other parties. On the one hand, and socio-political and socio-economic social change brings benefits, but for other changes, a historical review was necessary. groups, it becomes a loss (Macionis, 2014: We analyzed several reports from the Dutch- 697). language newspaper. Historical studies were To understand the complex problem of conducted to understand the socio-historical social change, a typology of social change process behind an event, in this case, is the is necessary. Piotr Sztompka defined the six elimination of Karanganyar Regency and its typologies: (1) the form of occurring social incorporation into Kebumen Regency. processes, (2) the results of a social change processes, (3) the community members’ awareness of social change process, (4) the Results and Discussion driving forces of the process of change, (5) Anatomy of Social Change the reality level of a social change, (6) and the time of the social change (Sztompka, According to August Comte, social life 2004: 13). Of the five typologies of social is like an organism. It has both static and change, two things need to be highlighted as dynamic aspects. Static aspects include a theoretical foundation for social analysis in elements that remain in society, such this article, namely ‘awareness of the social as social structures and social systems. change processes’ and ‘the driving forces of Conversely, dynamic aspects include various the social change process.’ The process of developments or changes that support social social change involves several actors/agents life (Turner, 2014: 8). Social change that who are aware of said process. It includes occurs in a society is a dynamic aspect of the awareness of the results generated by social community itself. change. Robert Merton differentiated the Social change is not just an event that ‘processes that manifest (visible) or processes shows a shift or change from one state to that are expected and realized’ and ‘latent another. Instead, it has several anatomies that processes’ or processes that are not expected include factors that cause social change, the and are not realized (Merton, 1968: 73). He impact caused by social change, the direction added a third process, which is ‘boomerang of a social change, and some typologies that processes’ or processes that are realized and characterize a social transformation. Social expected happened but missed (Merton, change can be defined as a change that occurs 1968: 105). in society, including behavior patterns, Some sociologists termed differently: social relations, as well as institutions and ‘intended change’ (planned change) and social structures at a specified period. John J. ‘unintended change’, or ‘unplanned change’

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(Soekanto, 2014: 272-273). Ram Ahuja’s book, technological systems and structures (Perry, “Social Problems in India” (1992), presented 2017: 10). Likewise, Max Weber believed an example of how the design of change had that Protestantism was the driving force been established in India. Still, a number for the creation of the European Capitalism of deviations occurred and became social economy (Perry, 2006: 3). Selo Sumarjan problems that inhibit changes in caste and analyzed how social change actors who underdeveloped classes (Ahuja, 1992: 103- caused social changes in relied 131), child abuse, child labour (Ahuja, 1992: on the figure of Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX 188-212), and gendered violence (Ahuja, and several educated elite figures (Sumarjan, 1992: 213-228) 2009: 448-459). Every social change has a causal force. Robert K. Merton developed the Strain A causal factor that occurs from within the Theory to explain cultural goals and the system is called an ‘endogenous process.’ inability of individuals to achieve what On the contrary, a causal factor that occurs people want in these cultural goals. The from outside is called the ‘exogenous inability of individuals to adjust and achieve process.’ Georg Simmel analyzed the role cultural goals in the structure can lead to of money as a driver of social change and several tensions (strains) called ‘anomie’ fast-paced life in his book, “The Philosophy (Merton, 1968: 11). Merton explained that of Money” (2017). For Simmel, money there are five types of individual adaptation ‘transcends time’ because it can overcome in facing cultural demands in the society, many temporal obstacles, both by nature namely: Conformity, Innovation, Ritualism, and the business cycle (Wajcman, 2017: 14). Retreatism, and Resurrection (rebellion) In contrast, Marvin Perry outlined how the (Merton, 1968: 194). Because society is a role of religion developing in the Near East collection of individuals, the five types of (Mesopotamia, Egypt, Hitti, and Persia) adaptation can apply to a group of people. 5000 years ago influenced civilization. It Social change can cause some tensions gave birth to social, political, economic and and require every individual, social

Figure 1. http://sociologylegacy.pbworks.com

84 Simulacra 3(1), June 2020 organization, political institution, economic law rather than blocking it and raising taxes institution to take adaptation actions that when many people are unable to pay it. can lead to one of the five types of adaptation As a result, industrial production slowed above. in America while other countries such as Japan, Chile, Denmark, Finland, Sweden The World Economic Crisis of 1929-1938 have picked up. and Its Impact on the Dutch East Indies Like a tsunami wave, the American Economic Depression affected not only on An economic crisis shook the United Europe but Africa and even Asia, including States in 1929. American society dubbed it the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia before the ‘Black Tuesday because 29 October 1929 independence). In more detail, Soegijanto fell on a Tuesday: Padmo divided the impact of the Economic Depression in the Dutch East Indies into four “That day, 16 million shares were traded, aspects, namely: the collapse of international and the industrial stock index fell 43 points, commodity prices and demand, problems destroying almost all profits made by the market during the previous 12 months. Some in the cultivation of commercial crops shares lost almost all of their value. During (especially rubber and sugar), the financial the week after ‘Black Tuesday’, the market crisis caused by reduced government revenue continued to fall freely” (McNesse, 2010: 26). and spending and finally social-economic consequences from the sharp decline in The world terms of this economic employment, income and purchasing power collapse with various names. In the Dutch in the country (Padmo, 1991: 151). East Indies, the Great Depression was known as Susanto Zuhdi revealed the deterioration ‘Malaise’ or ‘Age of Misses.’ The term ‘Malaise’ of the sugar and rubber commodity in appeared in a number of Dutch magazines Cilacap, which affected the number of (De Metaalbewerker, 1931) and newspapers (De exports at the Cilacap port. For example, Locomotief, 1932). The McNeese team listed a rubber prices even dropped by 10% of number of factors which caused Black Tuesday the normal prices (Zuhdi, 2016: 69-70). and the Great Depression in the United States Unlike sugar and rubber, coconut oil, and in 1929. These factors include (1) Declining copra commodities were able to survive construction and car industries, (2) Poverty the Economic Depression and sustained and credit issues, (3) International situations exports from the Cilacap port (Zuhdi, 2016: and debt, and (4) The gap between the rich 72-73). Sugarcane plantations experienced and poor (McNesse, 2010: 27-31). These great difficulties because sugar reserves conditions eventually burst and destroyed reached an alarming level in the 1930-1931 all the country’s economic foundations in period while production had to be pruned. the next few years. In addition to the above Prima Nurahmi Mulyasari reported that the problems, Amity Shlaes put more blame on closure of the Sugar Factory was government intervention - President Hoover influenced by the Economic Depression. The and President Roosevelt - on the market. sugar factory was previously a health service She stated, “But the deepest problem was the donor for Vereeniging Kliniek Poerwokerto. intervention, the lack of faith in the marketplace” After it went into bankruptcy on 1 January (Shlaes, 2007: 7). They were accused of 1933, it was taken over by Zending and raising wages while many were asking to be changed into Zendingziekenhuis te Poerwokerto lowered and letting tariff restrictions become (Mulyasari, 2014: 614)

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Colonial plantations in and East composed of 4 sub-district and seven Sumatra experienced different impact. For and a population of 34,363 inhabitants in East Sumatra, a number of coffee, tea, rubber, 2018 (BPS Kebumen Regency, 2019: 5,7,20- and sugar cane plantations decreased its 21, 43) production significantly. In 1930, 198,007 hectares of sugar cane was reduced to 27,575 Geographical Condition hectares in 1935. Coffee plantations which covered an area of 97,520 hectares in 1930 The “Atlas van de Zending Steirreinen van were reduced to 96,460 in 1935. In 1930, de Gereformeede Kerken in the Netherlands” 182,169 hectares of tobacco plantations were (1932) and other sources superimposed reduced to 173,686 hectares in 1935 (Siswoyo (overlay) with the R.B.I. Digital maps 2009 can et al., 2017). be seen in the map in Figure 1. Karanganyar Regency was included in the South Banyumas Residency with the Indonesian Economic Depression and Ocean as region southern boundary, Cilacap Elimination of Karanganyar Regency-South Banyumas Residency in the Regency western part, -North Banyumas Residency in the northern part, In this study, Karanganyar referred to the and Luk Ulo River which includes Bagelen area in Kebumen Regency. It is different from Regency- Kebumen Residency in the eastern Karanganyar Regency, which is adjacent to part: The comparison of the area and the the city of (Solo), , mainland use from overlays with land use , and . One data in 2009 (Digital R.B.I. Map) between was a regency and one was a district status. Karanganyar Regency are presented in Table Karanganyar was a district in Kebumen 1 below. Regency with an area of 31.40 km. It was 14 km from Kebumen Regency and was

Figure 2. Map of the Karanganyar Regency, South , and Kebumen Regency in Bagelen Residency (1932)

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Table 1 of Regentschap Purworejo, Regentschap The area and land use of Karanganyar and Kutoarjo, Regentschap Kebumen, Regentschap Kebumen Regency Karanganyar, Regentschap Ledok. Karanganyar Regentschap Purworejo had three districts Regency, Kebumen namely Purworejo, Loano, Cangkreb. South Regency, Regentschap Kutoarjo had five districts Banyumas Bagelen Residency Residency namely Kutoarjo, Kemiri, Pituruh, Jenar, Wonoroto. Regentschap Kebumen had four Area (Ha) 73.321,50 54.790,00 districts namely Kebumen, Gedong Tawon, Rice (Ha) 26.433,02 20.329,98 Prembun, Ambal. Regentschap Karanganyar Field (Ha) 5.972,21 7.798,69 had six districts namely Karanganyar, , Soka, Petanahan, Puring, Garden (Ha) 24.645,44 10.358,36 Karangbolong. While Regentschap Ledok had 5 districts namely , Kalialang, In terms of area size, the paddy fields Leksono, Sapuran, Kaliwiro (De Locomotief, and garden area of Karanganyar Regency 1874). was fuller than Kebumen. In the southern There had been no precise information part of the region, there were walet bird nest regarding the establishment of when production, as well as abundant tourism Karanganyar Regency. A book written by places and mining potential. Based on the Peter Carey quoted a book written by the area and economic potential, Karanganyar first Karanganyar Regent, Jayadiningrat. He Regency was higher than Kebumen Regency. stated that his rule stood in 1832-1863 (Carey, 2017: 232). Thus, it could be concluded that Karanganyar as Regency Post Java War Karanganyar Regency was founded in 1832. In the colonial era, Karanganyar was Before becoming the Karanganyar Regency a Regency that was part of the Bagelen in the War era, this region was Residency. After the defeat of the Java War included in the Duchy of Remo Djatinegara. (1825-1830) and the signing of a political The book entitled “Gedenkschrifjt Oorlog op contract on 27 September 1830, there was a Java Van den 1825 tot 1830” provided much re-administrative change in the Sultanate interesting information about months and and the residences by the Dutch government weeks and days before the arrest of Prince where, “... separated from the royal domain Diponegoro (28 March 1830). The name and ruled by the Dutch government” ‘Remo’ (sometimes written as ‘Rome’ ) (Paulus, 1917: 103). This period was called reappeared in a newspaper during the ‘Nagari transition’ in which some southern Javanese War (Javasche Courant, 1828). coastal regions of Bagelen and several fertile According to MM Purbo Hadiwidjoyo, agricultural areas were annexed by the Dutch the Remo Duchy centered in Jatinegara government. The Bagelen region, which Capital city was a merger of two other was a foreign territory, was then made into duchies, the Pucang Duchy and Kaleng a residency by the placement of a Resident Duchy in 1553. The Pucang Duchy was Assistant. Bagelen became a Residency area located in East Gombong and Kaleng until 1 August 1901 and was later merged Duchy in the southern coast. The elderly into the . community of Kedungpuji believed The Bagelen Residency oversaw that the Pucang Duchy was in the area of 5 Regentschap (Regencies) consisting their village. The name ‘Roma’ came from the influence of the Sundanese language

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‘Reuma’ which means, “The clearing after several new residencies were Kedu, North the forest is cut down” (Hadiwidjoyo, 2012). Banyumas. There was also the residency of The first regent of Karanganyar South Banyumas with Cilacap as the capital. was K.R.M.A.A. Djojodiningrat. He The South Banyumas Residency consisted was succeeded by Raden Adipati Aryo of Regentschap Cilacap (formerly Banyumas Tirtokusumo. He was the first Chair of the Residency area) and Karanganyar (originally Boedi Oetomo as a result of the Yogyakarta Kedu Residency area). A year after the Congress. His position was not widely known establishment of the South Banyumas by the generations of people in Kebumen Residency, Economic Depression hit the and Karanganyar (Hindarto, 2019). Akira Dutch East Indies region, especially the Nagazumi wrote about the establishment South Banyumas Residency. Then in 1930, of Tirtokusumo, “the regent of progress” the South Banyumas government was who thinks far into the future (Nagazumi, merged with the north into the Banyumas 1989: 81). The Karanganyar leadership Residency (Zuhdi, 2016: 93). was continued by Raden Ario Iskandar “Atlas Zendingterreinen van de Tirtokusumo (son of Ario Tirtokusumo). Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland” stated For his services and contribution to the that Karanganyar Regency had an area of development of his region, the Dutch 791.69 km2 while Kebumen was only 553.64 government gifted him with a “yellow song” km2. The composition of the Karangnyar as a token of appreciation (De Locomotief, 06- indigenous population was 404,754 and 11-1931). In his leadership era, Karanganyar Kebumen 330,652. The total was 735,406 became the centre of a famous horse racing people. In addition to the native population (De Preanger Bode, 20-07-1918) of Europeans, there were 748 people, 3,877 Another contribution was the Chinese people, and 71 foreigners in the two establishment of the first indigenous people districts. If added, the population of these hospital called ‘Panti Raga Nirmala’ or two districts in 1932 was 740,102 people. ‘Ziekenhuis Nirmala’ founded on 1 January The report book provides information after 1919. The laying of its first stone was done explaining the area and population: “Dit on 3 December 1922, while the opening was terrein is dus niet bizonder groot, maar het is carried out on 15 June 1924 and followed by verbazend dicht bevolkt” (This region is not too a women’s hall inaugurated on 30 April 1925 large but very dense) (Breukelaar, 1932: 8). (Bataviasch Nieuwsblad, 1925). In 2018, in the Karanganyar Regency earned foreign unused former building of the Panti Raga exchange from harvesting swallow’s nests was re- functioned as a Karanganyar Health in Karangbolong. Harvesting swallow’s nest Center which serves the health needs of the is not only an economic activity but also a community Hindarto, 2019). cultural activity because it is related to the people’s beliefs about the existence of the Karanganyar Regency was Broader goddess of the South Sea god named Ratu Than Kebumen Kidul. Therefore, in Karangbolong, a cottage is provided as the centre of the community’s Karanganyar Regency was a territory of ritual activities before harvesting the Kedu Residency since 1901 after previously swallow’s nest. Several heirlooms of included in Bagelen Residency area after Karanganyar Regency are stored there the Java War (1830). However, on 1 July (Bataviaasch Nieuwsblad, 1925). However, 1928, a reform of the government structure the formal authority to manage the swallow in was announced. Among bird nest harvest in Karang Bolong was only

88 Simulacra 3(1), June 2020 handed over from Gouvernement (central namely Purwokerto, Karanganyar, Kutoarjo government) to Regentschap Karanganjar and Batang were abolished” (Mulyasari, 2010: (Karanganyar Regency) on 1 January 1930 as 29). By merging the two regencies in the reported by an article entitled, “De Plaats Der Banyumas Residency area on 1 January Eetbare Vogelnestjes: Karangbolong (Location 1936, the Banyumas Residency only has four of Edible Birds Nest: Karangbolong) (De regencies namely, Cilacap, Banjarnegara, Sumatra Post, 1931). Purbalingga and Banyumas. Likewise, Karanganyar Regency suffered The Economic Crisis and the a similar fate, “opheffing” (deleted) and Elimination of Karanganyar Regency: A “samenvoeging” (combined). Karanganyar Sociological Perspective Regency would be combined into a district in the Kebumen Regency area. The district As explained above, the tsunami effect of council in Banyumas reacted similarly as the Economic Depression in America had hit Karanganya authorities to the status of the economy of the Dutch East Indies as well. “opheffing” (abolished) and “samenvoeging” However, the results of previous research (merged). Some of the main underlying emphasized more on the impact on the factors of the objection to the elimination economic sector (factories and plantations as and incorporation of the district by some well as community income). members of the Regency Council were a The impact of the Economic Depression historical aspect that was not considered also touched the government bureaucratic (Het Nieuws, 9 December 1935). The District sector. The Dutch East Indies government Council made the existence of an oil factory must carry out several policies, including in Karanganyar as an argument to reject restructuring the bureaucratic system and the abolition because of its contribution to cutting salaries and even a plan to eliminate economic development. Nevertheless, all many districts in the Kedu Residency and the resistance and rejection were useless the Banyumas Residency. Prima Nurarhmi because the elimination and incorporation Mulyasari wrote about the plan to eliminate not negotiable. Banyumas and Purwokerto Regencies In a newspaper article entitled, (Mulyasari, 2010: 27). Not only that the plan “Opheffing van Regentschappen: Ontwerpen of abolition but the removal of the district voor Karanganjar, Batang en Poerwokerto” capital. It was planned that Purwokerto (Elimination of Regencies: Draft for would be abolished as a regency, but it Karanganyar, Batang and Purwokerto), it will be made the capital of the Banyumas was stated that the government had given Regency and Residency. a Memorie van Toelechting (memorandum The planned elimination of several of explanation) on changes in the area if it districts in the Banyumas Residency and the is already combined. Karanganyar Regency Kedu Residency caused some controversies which covered an area of 792 km2 and and strong reactions from the district council had a population of 407,000 people and (De Indische Courant, 2 March 1935). It was Kebumen which had an area of 554 km2 feared that the area that was once deserted with a population of 333,200 after being had become lonelier and the economy became combined would have an area of 1345 km2 paralyzed and unemployment increased. and a population of 740,200 (Soerabaiasch However, despite those arguments, it was up Handelsblad, 1935). to being unanimously agreed. “As of January What were the underlying reasons for 1936, several regencies in Central Java Province, the implementation of “opheffing” (deleted)

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considered the anniversary of the Kebumen District for many years until the issuance of Kebumen District Regulation No. 3 of 2018 concerning the Anniversary of the Kebumen District. It was initially set on 1 January 1936 and was changed to 21 August 1629. In the sociological perspective, in every occurring social change, there is a power that drives the process of change. There is no standalone event of social change. It is always related to the structure and agency as well as factors outside the structure and agency. The causal factor that occurs from within the system is called an “endogenous process,” while if the causal factor that occurs from outside is called the “exogenous process” (Sztompka, 2014: 19). Even though there is no single factor in the occurrence of a social change, there are dominant factors that can Figure 1. “Staatsblad Van Nederlandsch Indie Over be traced. As Sztompka said, “Sociologists Het Jaar 1936,” 1937 must try to find which factors are the most important causes of change; what is the ‘main and “samenvoeging” (combined) in many driver’ of the social process” (Sztompka, districts including Karanganyar Regency? 2014: 20). With the above perspective, Savings or efficiency! As explained in the abolition of Karanganyar’s status as the newspaper called “Het Nieuws” (13 a regency and combined into one of the December 1935), “Savings,” which can be district areas in Kebumen Regency as driven obtained from the merger is estimated to by a dominant external factor or “exogenous save 97,000 fluorine per year. The elimination processes”. While in terms of planning by the of the district would undoubtedly reduce agents of change, in this case, the Dutch East the budget burden to pay several regents, Indies government, the decision to eradicate patih, and assistant wedana along with other Karanganyar and merger into the Kebumen government employees. The abolition area was something that was outside of , Purwokerto, and of previous planning. In a sociological Karanganyar was stipulated in “Staatblad van perspective, it is called “unintended change” or Nederlandsch Indie 1936 No. 62” signed by the “unplanned change,” an opposite of “intended Secretary-General JM Kiveron on behalf of change” or “planned change” (Soekanto, 2014: the Governor of the Dutch East Indies at that 272-273). time, De Jonge. This gazette was issued on 25 From the sociological perspective, February 1936 (Staatsblad 1936, 1937). the elimination of Karanganyar Regency Historically, 1 January 1936 was the into the Kebumen Regency was included official day of enforcement of Staatblad van in the category of ‘unplanned change.’ Nederlandsch Indie 1936 No. 62 in which The government is required to respond Karanganyar Regency became Kebumen to overcome economic shocks due to the District. However, the data above was once Economic Depression. If the private sector responds to the impact of the Economic

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Depression by reducing land and labor and RAA Sosrohadiwidjojo (Aroengbinang VII’s even shutting down its companies (as the younger brother) as the Kebumen Regent. bankruptcy of many sugar factories), the He held the Aroengbinang VIII title, relating government made efforts to budget efficiency to the abolition of Karanganyar Regency by removing a number of districts in several and its incorporation into part of Kebumen residencies, both the Kedu Residency and the Regency. Banyumas Residency. Economic Depression An article entitled, “Een Glorieus events centered in America as the “epicenter Regentengeslacht” (The Noble Regent’s of the economic earthquake” spread to Family) which contained a speech from Europe and a number of its colonies in Asia, the Governor of Central Java De Vos to the including exogenous forces that caused Regent of Arung Binang VII who resigned unpreparedness and the emergence of and the appointment of Arung Binang VIII unplanned socio-economic changes with all as the new Kebumen regent, in one of the its excesses. By using the Tension Theory remarks. It was addressed to Arung Binang approach from Robert Merton, the efforts VII and stated the following: “All residents in of the Dutch East Indies government as a your district know that Keboemen Regency political institution have taken the form of is the seat of the head of government born innovation adaptation (innovation). It is a from the Aroeng Binang family line, whose form of adaptation that is different from lineage is based on the authority of the the existing norms, so that it must take on Dutch government. It cannot be touched” extraordinary political policy by removing (De Locomotief, 17 February 1936). many regencies, including Karanganyar. Historical reasons in the form of the role and contribution of Arungbinang IV Why was Karanganyar, which is wider in helping to quell the Java War and the than Kebumen, was written off as a resistance of Prince Diponegoro’s followers Regency? in the West Bagelen region, especially Panjer, which was later replaced by Kebumen, There is one remaining question, why was Karanganyar abolished even though in terms of territory, Karanganyar was larger in area than the neighboring Kebumen Regency? Economically, Karanganyar has the potential to be reliable due to swallowing nest harvest and a coconut oil factory. This question is not easy to answer. However, the writer assumes that the election of Karanganyar as an abolished regency instead of Kebumen Regency was based more on historical reasons, namely the role and contribution of the Aroengbinang dynasty in ending the Java War in the West Bagelen region, especially Panjer. This assumption was based on a statement made by the Governor of Central Java, De Vos, during his speech in R.A.A. Aroengbinang VII’s resignation and the establishment of Figure 2. De Locomotief, 17 February 1936

91 Teguh Hindarto, Chusni Ansori established its role as a regency in the removal exogenous factors (external forces). The of other regencies during the great depression. exogenous factor that drives unplanned The term ‘onaantastbaar’ (cannot be touched) change was malaise, which shook and emphasize the historical authority of the caused structural changes in all fields. We Aroengbinang family towards the formation did not find any sign of incompetent and of Kebumen Regency. mismanaged government administration. There was no endogenous force that Karanganyar, Post Merger with encouraged the elimination of Karanganyar Kebumen Regency Regency. The impact of removing the status of What is the status of Karanganyar Karanganyar Regency was immediately seen Regency after ‘opheffing’ (deleted) and in how the sources of economic income in ‘samenvoeging’ (combined)? Some changes the Karanganyar area were managed by the could still be traced through a number Kebumen Regency. It had gained status as of newspaper reports in the Dutch East a ‘Groote Regentschap Keboemen’ or Expanded Indies. The Karanganyar Regent, R.A.A Kebumen Regency because the Karanganyar Iskandar Tirtokusumo, who initially served geographical area was included as the in Karanganyar, was transferred to Demak, Kebumen Regency. Various rejections from as reported by De Indische Courant (2 March the Karanganyar Regency Council could 1936). “The Regent of Demak has been not defer the plans and decisions of the appointed. his name is R.A.A. Iskandar Dutch East Indies government to remove Tirtoekoesoemo. He was originally the Regent (opheffing) Karanganyar Regency status and of Karanganyar.” Likewise, the management merge (samenvoeging) it into the Kebumen of swallow nests which was initially the Regency. The authority of Karanganyar as authority of Karanganyar Regency was now a regency city was reduced to the authority in the authority of Kebumen Regency (De of a sub-district city under Kebumen Indische Courant, 1937). Regency. The 20th Century became an Since 1936 or 1937, it seemed that the ending to the story of a regency called pandanus woven industry began to develop Karanganyar - as Purwokerto and Batang in Karanganyar. In an article written by Ir. R. - and morphed into a new story of a sub- Soepardi, Head of the Industrial Consultation district. Only Batang regency succeeded Office, South Central Java, entitled, “De in re-establishing its historical roots into a Aspecten Der Klein-Industrie op Java” (Micro regency in 1966. Through the sociohistorical Industry Aspects in Java explained the role study of Karanganyar in the colonial era, it of Karanganyar - a district that had just been was hoped that knowledge of the past would united with Kebumen District - in supporting help to reconstruct Karanganyar District in the woven hat industry (Het Nieuws, 1936 ). the Kebumen Regency today.

Conclusion Declaration of Ownership Viewed from a sociological perspective, This article is our original work. the abolition of the Karanganyar Regency status and its combination into the Kebumen Regency region was not a decision and Conflict of Interest historical event that stood alone. It was There is no conflict of interest to declare in highly related with events originating from this article.

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